Surgical suture



March 3, 1964 J. H. ALCAMO 3,123,077

SURGICAL SUTURE Original Filed Aug. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 cjanj March 3, 1964 J. H. ALCAMO SURGICAL SUTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 13, l956 United States Patent O 3,123,677 SURGCAL SUTURE John H. Alcamo, 321 S. 9th St., Newark, NJ. @riginal application Aug. 13, 1956, Ser. No. @3546, now Patent No. 2,938,028, dated .laine 13, 1961. Divided and this application Apr. 2i?, 1961, Ser. No. 565,256 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-635.5)

This invention relates to a surgical suture, and this application is a division and a continuation in part of my application titled Surgeons Suturing Device, Serial No. 603,546, tiled August 13, 1956, now Patent No. 2,933,023. The suture of the present invention is desirable for use in the mentioned suturing device, but is also advantageous in manual sewing of incisions and wounds.

The invention is a suture so formed that it prevents slippage in sutured incisions or wounds, and is shown as of non-uniform diameter or as non-straight. It is illustrated as being a ber, lament, or thread, of gut or other suitable material, the surface of which, at least in part, is Toughened, so that it will eectively hold the Sewed incision or wound. The roughening may take the form of raised projections, or depressions, or teeth, as, for example, barbs or spicules, adapted to snag or penetrate or press into the ilesh and thereby prevent slippage of the suture after each stitch. The suture may also be sinuous, with or without other irregularities. This anti-slipping action of a suture is obviously desirable in sewing incisions or wounds because the llesh is moist and therefore slippery. My improved suture therefore enables the surgeon to make a tighter seam.

The accompanying drawings illustrate various -forms of suture constructed as stated broadly above.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows an incision closed by a suture of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the suture in the form of a loop stitch and in process of closing an incision;

FIGS. 3 through 7 show incisions closed by diderent forms of suture, with the lower ends of the latter in section;

FIGS. 8 through 12 show stil-l further modications of the suture;

FIG. 13 shows adjacent sections to be sewed, with a loop of suture through one of the sections;

FIG. 14 shows a broken length of a modified form of suture, in which roughened sections alternate with smooth sections;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary View of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a section of a suture characterized by knurling.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description, in FIGS. 3 through 7 the parts to be sewed are designated S, and the projections on sutures are designated respectively 2, 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d. In FIGS. 8 through 12, the projections are 1e, 1]", 1g, 1h, and 1i respectively.

In FIG. 13, the designations are the same as those of FIG. 1, in which S designates the sutured flesh, 1 the suture, and 2 the projections thereon.

LF-IG, 3 shows barbs or spicules 2 projecting from the rice body of the suture and directed toward the trailing end thereof and at acute angles thereto. FIG. 4 shows -barbs 2f: somewhat similar to those of FIG. 3 but more regularly arranged. FIG. 5 shows projections 2b terminating in curved edges. FIG. 6 shows projections 2c at right angles to the suture body, but which are ilexed when the suture passes through iiesh. FIG. 7 shows projections 2d having curved edges alternating in directions and each extending part way around the suture body. FIG. 8 shows a spiral projection le. FIG. 9 illustrates projections 2f, having sharp curved edges. FIG. l0 shows a suture havinr7 spherically triangular curved facets forming projections 2g. FIG. 1l shows annular notched rings which provide projections 2h, and FIG. l2 illustrates a non-straight or, more speciiically, a sinuous, suture body having teeth or barbs 2z'. It will be noted that all the projections, with the exception of those of FIG. 6, are directed to one end of the suture, to allow it to glide smoothly in one direction, and to so engage the iiesh as to prevent separation of the sutured parts. As to the projections of FIG. 6, these Hex as they pass through the ilesh as shown, and then prevent slippage of the suture.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a suture having roughened or barbed section B alternating with smooth or unbarbed sections A. The lengths and relative lengths of these sections will vary with conditions in which the suture is used, it being intended that the roughened or barbed sections shall be confined to within the ilesh, with the smooth sections lying over and under the same, to avoid irritation. FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of a suture forming a modification of that shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 wherein knurled portions C are substituted for the barbed sections B.

What is claimed is:

l. An elongate cord of a diameter and tensile strength adapted for sewing and holding human flesh, and comprising a body portion and sharp-edged, resilient barbs projecting therefrom, at acute angles relative to, and directed toward, the trailing portions of the body, and adapted to yield toward the body when pulled through the flesh and of a size adequate to penetrate the ilesh when the cord is pulled against the barbs.

2. The cord specified in claim l, in which said barbs are pointed at their free ends.

3. The cord specihed in claim 1 in which the edge of the barbs are curved.

4. The cord speciiied in claim 1, in which the barbs form a helix.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,907 COX Aug. 15, 1944 2,572,936 Kulp et al. Oct. 30, 1951 2,866,256 Matlin Dec. 30, 1958 3,003,155 Mielzynski et al Oct. 10, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 299,291 Great Britain Oct. 25, 1928 118,526 Australia May 16, 1944 

1. AN ELONGATE CORD OF A DIAMETER AND TENSILE STRENGTH ADAPTED FOR SEWING AND HOLDING HUMAN FLESH, AND COMPRISING A BODY PORTION AND SHARP-EDGED, RESILIENT BARBS PROJECTING THEREFROM, AT ACUTE ANGLES RELATIVE TO, AND DIRECTED TOWARD, THE TRAILING PORTIONS OF THE BODY, AND ADAPTED TO YIELD TOWARD THE BODY WHEN PULLED THROUGH THE FLESH AND OF A SIZE ADEQUATE TO PENETRATE THE FLESH WHEN THE CORD IS PULLED AGAINST THE BARBS. 